Why Pray?

Does Prayer Work?

God has a master plan doesn't He? If God's plan is set into place, then wouldn't it be pointless to pray except out of sheer obedience?

That makes prayer life pretty dull if you ask me.

I've often felt in the past that prayer is as productive as yelling at a red light to turn green. You might get it right and it'll turn, but it was going to turn anyway.

But scripture has a different take on prayer. Lately, prayer has been a strong emphasis at my church/work. I like that, because while I've felt in the past that prayer feels pointless, at a deeper core level... I believe in the power of prayer.

Prayer's Power

My grandmother ("Mammaw") was a feeble woman. She was frail, weak and age had rendered her very humble by worldly standards. But for that, she was one of the most powerful women I ever knew.

Mammaw was a prayer warrior. My Mom used to say, "The best kind of prayer is a Mammaw prayer." She would pray, and mountains would move. I don't know of a more effective pray-er than her. She believed that God worked through prayer... she wasn't a dumb woman.

In Mark Chapter 9, Jesus casts a demon out of a possessed boy. When the apostles ask why they couldn't do it, he replies: "This kind can be cast out only by prayer."

Some might argue that still doesn't address the issue, the feeling, that it was meant to happen that way, and prayer really had nothing to do with it. Well, if you want to argue against the words of Jesus Christ himself, be my guest... but I won't. I will point to other scripture that supports the idea that God does change his mind however.

I read in 2 Kings 20 about King Hezekiah. This guy had it rough, he was picked on relentlessly by a very powerful king in Assyria. (Think Xerxes from "The 300" to get an idea). After praying and receiving help from God, Hezekiah got really sick and was told he was going to die by Isaiah, a prophet of God. BUT, Hezekiah prayed, bitterly at that, for God to save him. He reminded God of his faithfulness and Isaiah turned and told Hezekiah that God heard his plea, and changed his mind... Hezekiah recovered.

Where Does That Leave Us?

So is this evidence that if we're spiritual enough, that God will save us if we only pray?

No.

God does have a Will which can supersede our own desires. Maybe His will IS for you to get sick and die. Death isn't the worst thing that can happen to a Christian anyway.

But this does show that prayer has power, and that we should pray. Just like a child would ask their father for a trip to McDonald's. Sometimes Dad says yes, sometimes no... but there would never be a McDonald's trip at all if you didn't ask.